LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — The ball tips on New Year's Eve for a head-to-head measure of the Mountain West's top two teams in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings.
UNLV (9-3, 1-0 Mountain West) hosts Wyoming (5-5, 1-0) at the Cox Pavilion Friday at 2 p.m.
"Wyoming is well coached," UNLV head women's basketball coach
Lindy La Rocque said. "They are very disciplined and very patient, and they have a toughness to them that is a huge part of their identity."
Wyoming rarely commits an unforced error. They lead NCAA Division I with the fewest fouls per game (11.0) and are 10th nationally in fewest turnovers, committing just 11.8 per contest.
Despite a 5-5 record, the Cowgirls own the highest NET rating of any Mountain West team (80) after playing the toughest non-conference schedule of any league member. The Cowgirls allow just 56.0 points per game, second fewest among Mountain West teams.
"In a lot of ways, this could be different from a lot of our games. They could keep it low scoring. Obviously, we would rather get out, run and score more.
"They are going to make our offense work for every pass, every shot. Defensively, they are going to run their motion offense—they're committed to that. They're going to use a lot of clock, and they're going to get a great shot."
Admission to this Friday's game is free for UNLV students and children, as well as Nevada high school students with their High School I.D. Adult tickets are $6 each when purchased before game day, and $10 on the day of the game. Get tickets by visiting
UNLVTickets.com, or by calling 702-739-FANS.
The game will stream live on the
Mountain West Network. Live audio, featuring Wyatt Tomchek on play-by-play, can be heard free at
UNLVRebels.com.
The UNLV-Wyoming matchup is in Las Vegas for the sixth consecutive time. The pair split two contests in the regular season last year before Wyoming knocked UNLV out of the Mountain West Championship Quarterfinals.
- All-time series: Wyoming leads 27-25.
- Streak: Wyoming has won last two meetings.
- First meeting: Feb. 29, 1980. UNLV won 66-46 at the AIAW Regional in San Jose, Calif.
- Last meeting: March 8, 2021. Wyoming won 72-56 in the MW tournament in Las Vegas.
Covid-19 Attendance Policy for Cox Pavilion
- Those in attendance will not be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to attend the game, but masks will be required regardless of vaccination status.
- Fans will have a chance to win a membership to EōS Fitness in Las Vegas as part of the New Year's Eve promotion during the game.
Pregame Chalk Talk
- All fans are invited to attend a Lady Rebels' Pregame Chalk Talk with assistant coach Roman Owen.
- Ask questions and gain insight about UNLV's matchup with Wyoming.
- The chalk talk will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Cox Meeting Room 2.
- Cox Meeting Room 2 can be accessed via the elevator near the women's restroom on the Cox Pavilion concourse.
Postgame Meet-and-Greet
- The Lady Rebels' postgame on-court meet-and-greet has been canceled until further notice due to the COVID-19 Omicron surge.
Scouting Wyoming
- Wyoming is 5-5 overall and 1-0 in Mountain West play after defeating San Diego State 62-54 on Tuesday.
- UW has the highest NET rating of any Mountain West team (80) after playing the toughest non-conference schedule of any league member (32nd in NCAA SoS).
- The Cowgirls avoid unforced errors. Wyoming commits the fewest fouls of any team in Division I with 11 per game.
- Wyoming is also 10th nationally (3rd in MW) in fewest turnovers, committing just 11.8 per contest.
- McKinley Bradshaw is the top scorer, averaging 12.5 points.
- Quinn Weidemann is the deep threat, shooting 43 percent from 3-point range for 10 points per game.
- Wyoming has made 76 percent of its free throws this season. Six of the 9 players who have seen action in every contest average 80 percent or better from the line.
Lady Rebels' last time out: UNLV 73, Fresno State 63
- Alyssa Durazo-Frescas hit six 3-pointers for a career-high 18 points.
- Mountain West Player of the Week Desi-Rae Young added 14 points (7-11 FG) and 9 rebounds.
- UNLV held Fresno State to 37 percent shooting from the field and an 8-for-21 mark from 3-point range.
- The Lady Rebels grabbed 13 more rebounds than the Bulldogs, limiting Fresno State to just 11 second-chance points.
- UNLV shut down Fresno State's top offensive threat in the first half, limiting Haley Cavinder to four first-half points.
- The Lady Rebels led 46-31 at halftime.
- Fresno State fought back in the third period. The Bulldogs trimmed the margin to 4 and converted five UNLV turnovers into 6 points.
- Nneka Obiazor came off the bench for 13 points and nine rebounds.
- The Lady Rebels shot 50 percent from the field, including 59 percent from 3-point range.
Mountain West Player of the Week
- Desi-Rae Young was named this week's Mountain West Player of the Week after her 20-point performance against Hawaii.
- It was the second weekly award for Young this season and third in her career.
Setting records in the classroom
